Rein-support.



No. 702,498. Patented lune I7, 1902. J. T. SMITH. I

REIN SUPPORT.

(Application filed Mar. 10, 1902. (No Model.) v 2 Sheets-Sheet l,

2/0 M doom Nd. 702,498. Patented June I7, I902.v

J. T. SMITH. REIN SUPPORT. (Application filed m 10, 1902. (No Model.) 2Sheets-Sheet '2.

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UNITED STATES,

PATENT OFFiCE.

JESSE T. SMITH, OF OHAPELHILL, TENNESSEE.

REINESUPP-ORT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 702,498, dated June17,1902. -.Application filed March 10,1902. Serial No. 97,682. (Nomodel.)

To otZZ whom it may'ooncern Be it known thatI, JESSE T. SMITH, a citizenof the United States, residing at Ohapelhill, in the county of Marshall,State of Tennessee, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inRein-Supports; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full,clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enableothers skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use thesame.

This invention relates to dashboards for vehicles, and more particularlyto the rail thereof; and it has for its object to provide aconstruction. of rail which may be adjusted to support reins at theusual height or to support them above the reach of the draft-animalstail, a further object of the invention being to provide a constructionwith which the reins may be engaged in either position of the rail toprevent the reins from dropping beneath the animals feet when the reinsare notin use. l

In the drawings forming a portion of this specification, and in whichlike numerals of reference indicate similar parts in the'several views,Figure 1 is a perspective View showing a dashboard with the present railin place and in its lowered or folded position. Fig. 2 is a perspectiveview showing the attachment unfolded or in its raised position. Fig.

- 3 is a detail view'showing the hinge element ofthe member that isattached rigidly to the dashboard. Fig. 4'is a perspective view showingone of the clips.

Referring now to the drawings, the present device comprises a memberwhich is attached rigidly to the dashboard 5 of a vehicle, this memberconsisting of a metal wire or rod, one end of which is bent'intoU shape,as shown at 6, the extremity of the wire at one side of the U-shape bendbeing bent to form a loop 7, while the wire at the opposite side of theU-shape bend is bent to form a second loop 8, which is parallel with theloop 7 and spaced therefrom. The wire below the loop 8 is takendownwardly, as shown at 9, and then bent at a right angle, as shown at10, and then returned upon itself, as shown'at 11, theparts 10 and 11lying in mutual contact one above the other and forming anattaching-finger. Below the member 11 the wire is bent downwardly inalinement with the part 9, as shown at 12, and is then bent laterallyand turned upon itself to form the portions 13 and 14, which correspondto and are in the same plane with the portions 10 and 11. At the end ofthe part 14 the wire is bent downwardly at 15 in alinement with theportions'12 and 9 and is then bent laterally at right angles in theplane of the two attaching-fingers, as shown at 16. The portion 16 iscontinued beyond the free ends of the fingers and is then bent upwardlyat right angles to a point above the upper attaching-finger, as shown at17, and is then bent laterally above and parallel with theattaching-fingers, as shown at 18, after which it is bentdo wnwardly, asshown at 19, and is then re-turned and bent upwardly, as shown at 20,and then laterally, as shown at 21, and then downwardly and parallelwith the portion 17, as shown at 22. The parts 18 and 21 are paralleland are spaced apart, as are also the parts 19 and 20. In the portion 17of the wire adjacent to the upper and lower attaching-fingers are formedoutwardlydirected kinks 23 and 24, adjacent to the upper and lowerattaching-fingers, as shown. The free end of the wirethat is, the lowerend of the portion 22-is bent laterally and around the portion 17 andagainst the under side of the kink-V23. This member of the device issecured against the inner face of the dashboard 5 by means of clampscomprising plates .25 and 26, which are disposed against the outer faceof the dashboard, and other plates 27and 28, which are disposed againstthe inner faces of the fingers, the plates being connected by bolts 29and 30, engaged therethrough. These clamping-plates permit of attachmentand detachment of the member at will.

The movable member of the attachment consists also of a wire, at one endof which is formed aloop 31, which is disposed between the loops 7 and 8and receives a pintle 32 in connection therewith. From the loop 31 awire is taken upwardly, considering the member as being in its loweredposition, and then is bent laterally at a right angle to the plane ofthe loop 31 and is then re-turned upon itself 'to form: the stop-lug 33,after which the wire is "taken 1aterally,as I shown at 34, so as toextend beyond the opposite tached. The wire is then taken downwardly, asshown at 35, and then laterally, as shown at 36, and then upwardly at37, after which it is bent in the direction of the portion and thenre-tnrned upon itself to form the latchengagingorsupportingtongue3S.From the tongue 38 the wire is taken upwardly at 3.) and is then bentlaterally and re-turned upon itself to form a second tongue 40,whichlies above and in the same plane with the tongue 38. From the tongue 40the wire is taken upwardly to the height of the portion 34 and then isbent laterally and is taken around the member 35 and then backwardly atthe opposite side of the portion 34 to form the portions 41 and 42,lying in the same plane with and at opposite sides of the portion 34.From the portion 42 the wire is bent downwardly at 43 and is then takenlaterally at 44, parallel with the portion 34, the portion 44 beingcarried between and beyond the portions 19 and 20 of the fixed memberand finally formed in a loop 45, inclosing a wire above the loop 31.

Both members of the device are of springwire or spring-rod, and upon theinner face of the dashboard 5 and at the opposite ends from theclamping-plates 27 and 28 are secured clips 40 and 47, in which may beengaged the tongues 33 and 40 to support the end of the movable member.

\Vith the movable member in the position shown in Fig. 1 of the drawingsit will be seen that the portion 34 will support the reins after themanner of the ordinary rail, and when the reins are to be clamped, aswhen not in use. they may be engaged under the portions 41 and 42 of thewire of the movable member and over the portion 34, the positions ofthese parts being such that the reins may be readily forced into and outof their clamped position and at the same time will be held with aproper degree of security when in place. hen it is desired to hold thelines high above a horses back, the movable member may be swung to theposition shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings when the stop-lug will swingdownwardly in an arcuate path and by engaging the portion 17 of the wireof the fixed member will force it outwardly until the lug reaches thehollow of the kink 23, when the portion 17will spring back and receivethe lug in its hollow and hold the movable member yieldably againstreturn movement. The portion 35 of the movable member will then standabove the dashboard in a horizontal position and will act as a supportfor the reins, while the clamping members 41, 42, and 34 will still bein cooperative relation. The portion 35 of the movable member has alsokinks 48 and 49, which correspond to the kinks 23 and 24 and prevent thereins from sliding longitudinally of the portion to a harmful degree.

In practice modifications of the specific construction shown may bemade, and any suitable materials and proportions may be used for thevarious parts withoutdeparting from the spirit of the invention.

What is claimed isl. A rein-support comprising an attaching memberincluding a wire frame adapted for attachment to one end of thedashboard, one end of the wire of the frame being bent to form spacedeyes, the other end of the wire being bent upon itself to form a doublehook the members of which are in spaced relation, said frame having asocket, and a rein-sup porting member consisting of a wire bent to forma frame including a body portion and a laterally-projecting terminalportion,adapted to support the reins interchangeably, the body portionof the second member lying at one end between the members of the doublehook of the first member and having an end of the wire of which itisformed bent to form an eye and disposed between the eyes of the firstmember to receive a pivot-pin, the second member having a lug forengagement with the socket of the first member to hold the second memberat one point of its pivotal movement.

2. A rein-supporting device comprising an attaching member and a secondmember pivotally connected thereto for movement into erect and recliningpositions, said support having separate active supporting portions 34and 35 disposed for movementinto operative positions interchangeably asthe pivoted member is moved into erect and reclining positions.

3. A rein supporting and holding device comprising an attaching memberand a second member pivotally connected thereto for movement into erectand reclining positions,-

said member having separate rein-supporting portions 34 and 35 disposedfor movement into operative positions interchangeably as the pivotedmember is moved into erect and reclining positions, and having arein'clamping portion disposed for operation in both positions of themovable member.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JESSE T. SMITH. Witnesses E. B. LEONARD, G. W. LAVENDER.

